Salvation (with a response from MRFF’s Pastor Joan)

Published On: July 26, 2013|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|10 Comments|

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Dear MRFF,

The difference between followers of Jesus Christ and everyone else, let alone persecutors such as yourself, our sins for which we all are accountable have already been paid for. You, if you do not accept the loving Grace of Jesus Christ, will have to pay for your own sin. And that is eternal separation from Christ and separation from any hope that your condition of burning in an non-consuming fire will ever change. I pray that you turn to Christ. It is prophetic that we will be persecuted for living out our faith in Him. You at this point are only part of the fulfillment of that prophesy. In the end, our reward is eternity in Heaven with Christ…I’ve already discussed the consultation prize.

In Christ.

(name withheld)


Dear (name withheld),

Mikey – who is Jewish – is the face, founder and President of MRFF but 75% of those on the Board, Advisory Board, volunteers and supporters are mainline Christians. 96% of the over 34,000 clients (1 soldier represents over 100 other soldiers) are Christian. Some of the complainants are Christian Chaplains.

I am on the Advisory Board and an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God.

MRFF does not act on its own but at the request of soldiers’ complaints of the blatant disregard and trampling of the Constitution and the Military Code of Justice; blurring the lines between the separation of church and state. Every complaint is vetted by Mikey who was a JAG lawyer at the Air Force Academy for 10 years; worked in the West Wing under Ronald Reagan; and held positions in private practice. If you have a problem with what MRFF does I suggest you contact each of the soldiers and tell them how you feel about it.

Mikey and we at MRFF are not persecuting you or other Christians nor are we part of the end-times fulfillment. We ARE the greatest defender of the Constitution and military law – bar none.

We are not trying to rid our military of Christianity. What we are trying to stop is an extreme form of Christianity that believes they are the only true form of it and all other mainline Christians are not of the “right kind” or “born-again” and are going to hell. They are attempting to turn our soldiers into “Warriors for Christ” and that every war is a Crusade. They teach that they are to cleanse the world of all the wrong kind of Christians, those of other religions and those not practicing any faith, in order for Jesus to come back and reign for 1,000 years. This thinking throws out the entire book of Revelations where Jesus comes back with His ‘heavenly army” to conquer the world. Jesus never asked for an army on earth. He said “Blessed are the peacekeepers” not “Blessed are the warmongers.”

This extreme form of Dominionist/Fundamental/Evangelical Christianity is relentless in its in-your-face religious proselytizing to other soldiers by the military personnel all the way up to the Commander. They have usurped the office of the Chaplains. They have harassed, beaten, withheld advancements and drummed soldiers out of the military on trumped up charges, all in the name of Jesus. They believe in cleansing the military of all of those that do not believe in the sect they do.

US Army chaplain MAJ James Linzey, who, in a 1999 video, described mainstream Protestant churches as “demonic, dastardly creatures from the pit of hell “that should be “stomped out.”

This is the type of Christian – including Lt. Col. Chaplain Reyes – that we protect mainline Christians from.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . “(1st Amendment)

“. . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” (Article VI, Section III)
Our military is a government entity and must remain secular. Any person that wants to don the uniform of a branch of our military is free to do so with the express admonition from the Constitution to not exalt one religion over another.

The majority counts in elections but not under the Constitution (we are all equal) in the military and other government entities.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
Air Force Instruction 1-1
7 August 2012

2.11. Government Neutrality Regarding Religion. Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for an individual’s free exercise of religion or other personal beliefs and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. For example, they must avoid the actual or apparent use of their position to promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion. Commanders or supervisors who engage in such behavior may cause members to doubt their impartiality and objectivity. The potential result is a degradation of the unit’s morale, good order, and discipline. Airmen, especially commanders and supervisors, must ensure that in exercising their right of religious free expression, they do not degrade morale, good order, and discipline in the Air Force or degrade the trust and confidence that the public has in the United States Air Force.

Lt. Col. Chaplain Reyes’ is free to say anything he wants under the First Amendment but it must be within the context of his church or chapel. He is not allowed to place his beliefs inThe Official Website of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for ALL of the soldiers to see according to Air Force Instruction 1-1.

We’ve received thousands of salvation messages and they’re getting a little repetitious. You’re speaking to the choir here because your email goes not only to Mikey but the rest of us.

I hope you see that what Lt. Col. Chaplain Reyes did is against military law and borders on insubordination.

Pastor Joan

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10 Comments

  1. Mitchell July 26, 2013 at 2:56 pm

    Simply by saying everyone believes in something be it a deity or even themselves is “denigrating” to others? You have got to be kidding me? I served in the military for over 23 years and never did anyone force religion on me. It was never denied to me either. I think people are just getting a little too politically correct these days for their own good. Yes I am what you would call an atheist, and Mikey Weinstein is giving us a bad name. HE needs to relax a little let people have their faith and stop hiding behind a façade of help and claiming to “stick up” for others. Lawyers are the real problem with this world today. Job one for lawyers is to muddy the waters and twist interpretations to achieve what is best for their goals and the “so called” goals of their clients. It seems to me there is another “magical” creature, this Christian monster you are talking about and just as I have never seen proof a “God” exists, I have never seen proof of YOUR fictional monster either.

  2. Pastor Joan July 28, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Mitchel,

    The Secretary of the Air Force had to issue Air Force Instruction 1-1 because the rampant proselytizing by one sect of Christianity was causing moral decay, good order and discipline within in the ranks.

    I’m so happy for you that you were not on the receiving end of the bigotry and hatred extended to the atheists of today.

    You say that MRFF is giving atheists a bad name but the Assistant to President Mikey Weinstein – Blake Page – is an atheist and goes on speaking tours on behalf of MRFF.

    Our 34,000+ clients do not consider MRFF as a “facade of help” after they’ve done everything they can within the chain of command. They consider us as the only hope in reigning in our military to abide by the Constitution and military law.

    Mikey is a 1977 honor graduate of the USAFA was a JAG officer for 10 years. He also worked in the West Wing under President Reagan for 3 years.

    Yes, he is a lawyer, and I suggest you go to the “About” section of our website, click on “Foundation Voices” and see the distinguished people that are on the Board and Advisory Board.

    As far as MRFF being a “fictional monster” – Mikey Weinstein has been listed as one of the “100 Most Influential People” by the U.S. Defense.

    http://special.defensenews.com/people/short-list.php?pn=1

    So much for fictional.

    Pastor Joan

  3. Mitchell July 31, 2013 at 4:45 pm

    Just for clarification The “Fictional Monster” I spoke of is a reference to the “Religious Monster” the MRFF claims is forcing itself on military personnel. I did not call Mr. Weinstein a monster; we have already agreed that he is in fact a lawyer. (Yes I do feel that lawyers have gotten away from what their actual function is supposed to be over the years; that is as they say another story, and MY personal opinion) The point I am trying to make is this. Where does it end? Are these particular service members going to be offended next that there is a chapel on post? I do not understand how the chaplain is not allowed to post things such as the essay on “The Chaplains Corner” How is that considered a public aspect of the website? If I did not wish to see what the chaplain posted I do not go to the “Chaplain’s Corner” I must admit that I have not seen the site though. Again however where does it stop? No chapels on post? Soon no churches are allowed anywhere?
    Just as I do not want, and believe me I do NOT want anything being forced on anyone. I do not want people’s right to worship infringed upon as well. I am trying to research this, can you perhaps enlighten me on particular instances and how “exactly” Chaplain Reyes is a militant religious terrorist targeting our service members. While I can entertain the idea that it does occur I am hard-pressed to believe that it is as pervasive and as hostile as it is being portrayed. I will also admit that I am far from being thoroughly informed. I just don’t see how referencing something said years ago could make him such a vile creature. I admit I do not know him personally but I have seen some comments to others from MRFF staff that do not speak very well of him and are in fact quite hateful; to me anyway. I am trying to find them on the site and if I can I will get back to you. I will look into things a bit more before getting too obscene like some others but as I said it just seems to me that Chaplain Reyes’ essay on his “corner” does not seem to be forcing his views on anyone let alone “denigrating anyone. Anything you can provide to clarify would be greatly appreciated as I cannot find the text of the essay. A link to the website might be helpful as well as I have not been able to locate that.
    Thank you for your time and response.

  4. Mitchell July 31, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Ok Pastor,
    I just found and went to the Elmendorf website. I could not see a “Chaplains Corner” listed anywhere on the site. I actually had to work to find it. The news article said it was on the “Chaplains Corner” Now I ask. You say he can post what he wants on “His” website. In fact here is part of your statement to (Name Withheld) “Lt. Col. Chaplain Reyes can say and write anything he wants in his church or chapel. He can even pass out flyers on this to his parishioners. But he cannot place it on the official website for the whole base where there are others of different religions or no religion at all. Period.” Ok so is he supposed to have his own website apart from the Elmendorf website? If so then what is the need for a “Chaplains Corner” It is pointless. Now again you may argue he can only post information about services and what not on the Elmendorf site. Well when I FINALLY typed in Chaplains corner I was taken to a list of commentaries by the chaplain. Here is my question. Why are all the other commentaries ok? They all contain religious material one of the first ones quotes Palms. What exactly is he supposed to put in the “Chaplains Corner”? That is his job as a chaplain. This is what I am talking about. I, ME, THIS PERSON had to absolutely and deliberately look for this page on the website. There is another section called “Chapel” here is where the times for services are posted. My point of course is if the chaplain cannot write about religion which is his job. WHY is there a “Chaplains Corner”? Most importantly what are people who do not wish to see this material doing looking for it? This is how it starts, for now it is he cannot post religious material the next thing people start asking is that the chapels be removed from the post or base as it were. You cannot tell a chaplain he must do his job without talking about religion it is impossible. For me the fact that there are other commentaries on the page that contain religious scripture if you will says to me that someone took offense at the word “Atheist” plain and simple. So what about the other commentaries? I would like to hear your thoughts on why they are allowed and not the other essay where he apparently is only referencing the phrase about atheists. I will continue to look for a copy of the essay.

  5. Mitchell August 1, 2013 at 7:04 pm

    “Psalms” …Sorry for the typo.

  6. ed deforest August 7, 2013 at 11:16 pm

    Mitchell,
    Excellent post and questions! I want to see how they are answered. The “inflammatory” column is here:
    http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/chaplain-ordered-to-remove-religious-essay-from-military-website.html

    ed

  7. ed deforest August 7, 2013 at 11:24 pm

    A question just occurred to me:
    What is your definition of mainline christianity? The Bible is clear that belief in Christ is the only way to God. Thanks

    ed

  8. Mitchell August 9, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Thanks for the link Ed…I’m still waiting too…They responded a little faster the first time…I guess they are a little busy…lol

  9. Mitchell August 9, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    I just read the column and all I can say is…REALLY?? I am sorry but THIS atheist was not offended in the absolute least little bit. Come on people you really do need to lighten up. NO WHERE in that essay did he ask anyone to change their faith, and NO WHERE did he denigrate atheists or anyone else. Give me a break. Let me tell you what personally offends me STUPIDITY yet I am surrounded by it every day mostly it is the people around me, but don’t even get me started on the constant assault on my intelligence by “Reality Television” I would love for that crap to go away but NOOOOO there it is all day everyday because the television stations have the right to pander to the simple minded and I have to endure brief glimpses of it in commercials but here is what I DO? I TURN THE CHANNEL; I certainly do NOT go looking for it. It is as I thought they are looking for trouble and the more you concede the more they will want. If the chaplain cannot write about religion on his “corner” of the website then he cannot do his job effectively so remove it. Better yet take religion out of the military and see how many volunteers you have. Well I guess there is always the draft but given the amount of selfish people TAKING from our government these days that don’t want to do their share I would imagine that there would be a lot of folks running to points beyond the U.S. See now you have me rambling. The essay was in absolute reference to the Father Cummings story that is all. Stating that someone has faith in either religion or the fact that their buddy will help them get through a tough time is not denigrating to anyone, we do ALL look to someone or something during a time of need. Sorry but the butt hurt atheists need to get over themselves and stop looking for a fight. I have seen the argument against the essay and now the essay itself and it is; to quote someone who could REALLY write, “Much ado about nothing.”

  10. Mitchell August 15, 2013 at 10:42 am

    I thought I would get a response by now but I guess not. It is a perfectly justifiable question, is it not? I am not trying to be a jerk and I am definitely not one of the rabid bible thumpers you are seeing a lot of on this site. Thank you for your time…You silence in response to my question speaks volumes…

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